If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Hennessy Super Shelter - The Good, Bad & Ugly?

Hey Everyone,

I bought a HH Explorer Deluxe earlier this year and I'm trying to find the best insulation system for it. Does anybody have any experience with the super shelter?

My primary goal is to keep the overall insulation system as lightweight and compact as possible. Given this, what would you all suggest? Is there some other under quilt out there that would better serve this purpose?

Also, I don't ever plan on sleeping in temperatures below freezing... so it doesn't need to be THAT perfect of a system - just good enough to keep me from being completely miserable in say, 40 degree weather.

Thoughts?

"I never came upon any of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking." - Albert Einstein

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us....that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
Romans 8:18,21-22

There are a few things I didn't like about the super shelter. The open cell foam pad is a bit fragile, according to reviews. They show a space blanket on their videos, but they are also somewhat fragile and who wants to replace gear parts every other outing. I have the HH with its normal fly, and the XL hex fly. Nothing of theirs ever seems to go back in its packing. Have you watched the SS video? Imagine trying to carefully roll and repack the SS on a cold rainy morning. That being said, I do love my Hennessy Hammock... I thought about switching to ENO because their stuff looks smaller (packed) but its a tough choice to make.
If you are only going to the 40's, I suggest making the KAQ (kick *** quilt) found on this site. It runs about $125 for the supplies, and is good to 40, from my experience, when used with M50 and the heavier climashield (I think it was 6oz?), or you can just buy one from the vendor. It's synthetic, easy to work with and sew, and mine weighs 27oz in its stuff sack, which is no bigger than a coffee can (or one of the self inflating thermarests)

My son Weasel and I have both used the HHSS exclusively for under-insulation since we started hammocking over a year ago now. We've been out in most types of weather except perhaps heavy snow, with our coldest nights (a pair of them) around 22F with 30+ mph winds. That particular run I think I supplemented the HHSS undercover setup with a fleece blanket, and I think Weasel added in an extra pad he'd carried with him. Neither of us have ever bothered to put on the overcover yet. We both slept comfortably (I was the last person to wake the second morning) both nights, wearing a single layer of winter baselayers, wool socks, and a wool buff. Neither of us use topquilts, but instead sleeping bags (I have a $30 20 deg bag from Sport's Authority, Weasel has some 0deg bag he paid about $50 for).

For us, it works. Well.

I suspect part of that success is using sleeping bags and not just a topquilt.

With all of that said...for what you're expecting to camp in, you're quite possibly just as well of with the KAQ quilt someone else mentioned.

Similar price range, similar temperature range. If you're concerned about whether or not the HHSS will work for you, go with the quilt. Or see if there's someone in your area that you could do a "hang" with that has the HHSS and try it out before you buy it.

There are a few things I didn't like about the super shelter. The open cell foam pad is a bit fragile, according to reviews.

Yes, I am one who has oft commented on the fragility of these pads. Still, I recently sold my original HHSS from 6 years ago. Over those 6 years, from not being careful and not realizing the fragility and knowing some tricks to avoid damage, I poked several holes through my original pad. Turned out to be a non issue. Very easy to patch with seam sealer. But I got to where I didn't bother to patch, because it really did not effect function. Once you are laying down, any holes are pretty much pushed together anyway. I never felt any cold spots from holes I did not bother to patch. I had 2 additional HHSSs that I got at various times later, and not a single hole in either of those, because I have learned to be more careful. And also to always grab the pad, if adjusting it's position or stuffing it, through the space blanket or UC/hammock. I put those items between my fingers and the HH pad!

They show a space blanket on their videos, but they are also somewhat fragile and who wants to replace gear parts every other outing. I have the HH with its normal fly, and the XL hex fly. Nothing of theirs ever seems to go back in its packing. Have you watched the SS video? Imagine trying to carefully roll and repack the SS on a cold rainy morning.

I have put the entire HHSS back into it's original stuff sack just to see if I could do it. But I would never bother with any of that in the field. 1st of all, once my SS ( all I use with my HH Explorer UL hammocks) UC is on, it never comes off until hot weather, and I might not take the pad off either. I have done it two ways, both of which are very fast and easy, and my space blankets have lasted for years with these methods.
1: I remove the HH pad ( with space blanket rolled up inside pad) and place it in a compression dry sack along with whatever else I really want to keep dry, then compress it all down into a smaller package. Then I either put this in or strap it on the outside of my pack. Then with blinding speed ( ) I skin my hammock and UC into HH snake skins, a very fast procedure. This has worked out very well. Once I rehang the hammock and UC as a unit and release them from the skins, it just takes a couple of minutes to retrieve the pad from the dry sack and unroll it back into the UC. OR:
2: I take the entire HHSS hammock, UC, pad, space blanket, over cover if using, and maybe even my TQ left zipped inside the hammock, and starting with one end loosed from the tree, stuff the whole enchilada ( or Taco? ) into my pack or a separate large dry sack. Works like a charm. When I get to camp, attach to trees on one end, pull out of pack as I walk to the other tree and attach, put up tarp, ready for bed! No separate stuffing of UQs and TQs or bags!

That being said, I do love my Hennessy Hammock... I thought about switching to ENO because their stuff looks smaller (packed) but its a tough choice to make.
If you are only going to the 40's, I suggest making the KAQ (kick *** quilt) found on this site. It runs about $125 for the supplies, and is good to 40, from my experience, when used with M50 and the heavier climashield (I think it was 6oz?), or you can just buy one from the vendor. It's synthetic, easy to work with and sew, and mine weighs 27oz in its stuff sack, which is no bigger than a coffee can (or one of the self inflating thermarests)

I agree that, if $ are a major concern, for the $ and for moisture security, the AHE models are a very excellent way to go. Hard to beat the price. Plus I think they will be good to lower than the rated temps. However, I don't think they will stuff down as small as an HH pad and UC will, if full length it will be a fair bit heavier and like all UQs it does not include the extra wind and water protection of the HH UC, which is substantial, and which allows you to get away with a smaller tarp. All (insulation, wind/rain block/space blanket) at about 18 oz for HHSS #1. To get that with any UQ you will need the additional $ and weight/bulk of an UC protector. Or a much larger tarp at least. This is the one major plus that most folks seem to forget about when comparing the HHSS to all other systems. But from personal experience, it is the first plus I think about when I am thinking of using my HHSS instead of one of my fine UQs or my much loved Pea Pod. But, I personally think the AHE KAQ would be a at least bit warmer than the base HHSS, even if heavier and bulkier.

Not trying to talk any one out of the AHE or any other UQ, just stating some pros and cons as I see them and from my personal experience. Either way is a good way to go!

Last edited by BillyBob58; 12-31-2012 at 13:10.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us....that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.
Romans 8:18,21-22